Storm-front for vehicles.



G. w. SCOTT. STORM FRONT FOR VEHICLES.

LAPPLIOATIOH FILED APB. 2'1, 1907.

965,233 Patented July 26, 1910.

2 SHEETB-BEEET 1.

e. w. SCOTT STORM FRONT POE VEHICLES;

APPLICATION FILED APR. 21, 1901. 9 5,933,, Patented July 26, 1910.

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GEORGE VT. SCOTT, OF TROY, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE STAR STORM FRONT COMPANY, OF TROY, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

STORM-FRONT FOR VEHICLES.

eeaase.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 26, 1910.

Application filed April 27, 1907. Serial No. 370,586.

citizen of the United States, residing at Troy, in the county of Miami and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Storm-Fronts for Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in storm fronts for vehicles.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive front which can be readily attached and detached and which will be firmly held in position.

The invention consists in the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional View showing my improved front attached to an ordinary buggy. Fig. 2 is a detail View showing the method of attaching the same at the top. Figs. 3 to 6 are detail views of a part of the fastening or holding device. Fig. 7 is a View of the front attached and extended. Figs. 8 to 10 are detail views showing modifications of one of the hooks or fastenings forming part of the attaching means. Fig. 11 is a modified form of hook,

Like parts are represented by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

I11 forming my improved front I preferably use a single piece of rubber-cloth or similar material, a, which is shaped to conform generally to the top of the vehicle to which it is to be applied and which may be divided into three principal parts, a a a as indicated by the shade lines in Fig. 7, the part, a being adapted to extend from the dash of the vehicle upwardly and over the top of the vehicle; the parts, a and a being adapted to fall along the shade lines so as to form the sides and close the side of that part of the vehicle which is in front of the top in a well known manner.

It has been common to employ an elastic band, or bands having an elastic portion, to extend over the top to attach the storm front to said top, the elasticity of the band being utilized both for adjusting it to different sizes and also for furnishing means for holding the device in place. These elastic connections have the disadvantage that in case of wind they are liable to be stretched out and gape so as to leave an opening at the top of the vehicle. In my improved top I employ a non-elastic band, b, which extends through the top portion of the storm front and is provided at each end with an adjustable hook or fastening, 15 of novel construction, these hooks being adapted to engage the top part or brace e of the vehicle top, by first breaking the joint top as indicated in Fig. 2, and placing the hook under the same and then forcing the brace down into normal position, as indicated in dotted lines, thus stretching the band across the top of the vehicle and securing it firmly in position in such manner that it cannot be accidentally detached and so that it cannot possibly sag or gape at the juncture between this top and the top of the vehicle. A similar form of attachment is made for the bottom portion of the front, that is, I employ non-elastic straps, 6 attached to the inside of the main portion, a, of the storm front and provided at the outer end with adjustable hooks, b adapted to engage with the toe-rail of the vehicle; the storm front itself being adapted to extend over the dash and on the opposite side thereof, while these straps extend on the inside of the vehicle so as to engage the toe-rail (Z, on the inside of the vehicle. The side portions or flaps, a are adapted to be connected to one of the bows of the top in the usual way preferably by similar adjustable hooks, Z), on the straps, 6

The special construction of the adjustable hook is shown in Figs. 3 to 6 and Figs. 8 to.

10. It consists preferably of a single piece of metal, consisting of a main body portion, 0, and a hook 6, having perforations c, c and 0 These perforations are adapted to permit the passage of the non-elastic strip through the same so as to permit the same to be adjusted. The strap enters through the perforation, 0, thence through the perforation c and perforation 0 These perforations may be provided with teeth, as shown at c, c and c in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. These teeth engage in the nonelastic strap and hold the same in any position'of adjustment that the hook may assume thereon. The attaching straps, Z), are preferably made considerably longer than is actually necessary for adjustment so that the extended portions, 6, are allowed to project through the ends of the hooks Z). These extended portions, 6, are allowed to hang down inside the vehicle substantially from the top, and inasmuch as the non-elastic strap passes from one side of the hook to the other and through the respective sides thereof when the hook is engaged by the top prop or brace of the vehicle it carries this extended portion of the strap downward into the hook and under the said brace. It will be seen, therefore, that by pulling on the free end of this strap the hook may be readily forced out from under said brace by the action indicated in Fig. 4 and furnishes a means for readily detaching the front in case it is desired to detach it quickly, since as soon as the hook is displaced from the brace the front will fall and become practically free from the vehicle. For the hooks, Z) and o a single hook, as shown in Figs. 6 and 9, might be employed, but for those which are adapted to b,e put under the brace the hook having both sides perforated and the non-elastic band extending from one side to the other, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, is essential.

In Fig. 11 is shown a slight modification in the form of the hook, a loop or ring 0 being employed in place of the perforation c in the end of the hook.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 7

1. The combination of a storm front for vehicles formed of suitable non-elastic fabric having attaching means at the respective ends thereof, which attaching means consist of non-elastic straps having adjustable hooks, with the top-prop or brace of the vehicle having a horizontal portion, one edge of said storm front being adapted to be drawn across the vehicle top with the straps projecting downwardly in proximity to the horizontal jointed portions of the topprop brace and with which said hooks are adapted to engage when. the joints of the brace are broken and to be held securely by said brace when the joints are in their straightened position, as specified.

2. The combination with a vehicle body of a storm front consisting of flexible nonelastic material, extending from the front of the vehicle body to which it is securely attached to the front of the vehicle top, nonelastic attaching means engaging with the front of the body, and non-elastic attaching straps having adjustable hooks extending over the front of the vehicle top, atopprop or brace having a jointed horizontal portion, said hooks being adapted to engage said horizontal portion when its joint is broken and to be forced into place to being adapted to be engaged with one mem-' ber of each of said props or braceswhen broken and to be drawn tightly over said top when the props or braces are straightened, the ends of said straps being extended bet-ween the respective hooks and braces, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination of a storm front for vehicles formed of suitable flexible mate rial, an attaching means for said front consisting of a non-elastic strap extending over the front of the vehicle top, an adjustable hook having a series of perforations through which the end of said strap is threaded, and a top prop or brace with which said hook is engaged when the same is broken, said brace being adapted when straightened to draw said strap tightly over said top, said strap being adapted to lie between said hook and brace to form a detaching means, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination of a storm frontfor vehicles formed of suitable flexible material,

an attaching means for said front consisting of a non-elastic strap extending over the front of the vehicle top, an adjustable hook having a series of perforations, one of said perforations having engaging projections, the end of said strap being threaded through said perforations and adapted to be engaged by said projections, and a top brace formed of jointed members, said hook being adapted to be engaged by one of said members when the brace is broken andto draw the strap tightly over the vehicle top when the brace is straightened, the end of the strap being projected between the brace and hook to form a detaching means, substantially as and for the purpose specified. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand April 1907.

GEORGE W. SCOTT.

lVitnesses: r

DAVID C. GREEN, PHILIPS. KEMPER. 

